A Medley of Ideas to suit Diverse Dads

Admit it. Over the years, dear old Dad has pretty much been a meal ticket for you and taken you out for plenty of dinners. Maybe he even helped you out with college tuition, rent or car payments. Show your dad some Father’s Day love by treating him this time and bringing him to for an outrageously good Low Down Lobster Boil. From 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, $25 per person entitles guests to a whopping 1.5-pound Maine lobster served with fresh corn on the cob, creamer potatoes, spicy Andouille sausage and a crisp green salad. Quite a deal! Reservations are required, so visit SOHO’s website or call 770-801-0069. The regular dinner menu featuring SOHO’s contemporary, seasonal style will also be available.

It’s summertime, and who could possible say no to creamy frozen treats for dessert? Certainly not your dad, who can score it for free. The newin Vinings is offering a free yogurt cone or float to all paternal figures on Sunday, so swing by after the Lobster Boil for a sweet ending to the evening.

Crafty types who love to make jewelry will revel in the sheer variety of choices at the Down the Street Bead Show at the this weekend. The wholesale and retail show is open for business from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 per person, but if you can convince your Dad to come, he’ll get in free. Perhaps not, but the Down the Street Bead Show offers an array of jewelry-making classes during the weekend for an extra charge. If you always wanted to get started in crafting your own unique pieces, this is your chance to get your beads on. Class times, prices and other useful information is accessible on the website.

Yeehaw! Bucking broncos are as rare as hen’s teeth around here. Apparently that means once in a blue moon, or something of the sort. The Cobb Classic Rodeo gallops into the arena at Jim Miller Park in Marietta Friday and Saturday. Bareback riding, exciting steer wrestling, team roping, calf roping, barrel racing and the adrenaline-laced bull riding event all conspire to bring an action-packed, memorable evening your way. Animal lovers young and old will adore the mobile petting zoo with farm animals. Daredevils can get their kicks by giving the mechanical bull a whirl. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for children over 5, and free for kids under 5.

The free Movies in the Park series continues tonight at the The 1988 fantasy flick “Willow” will be on the big screen this week, offering plenty of swordfighting, mythical creatures, trolls, a sorceress, and special effects galore. Filmed in England, Wales, and New Zealand, Willow’s cinematography is stunning and one of its major strengths. Directed by Ron Howard, produced by George Lucas, and starring Val Kilmer, this movie is a classic for sci-fi/fantasy buffs. Just BYOB (blanket, that is), stretch out with the family for some outdoor entertainment, and crunch away on the free popcorn. Sponsored by Vinings Church, the movies begin around dusk (8:30-ish)

Explore, savor, share….repeat.  Anyone who experiences understands immediately why The Grape’s website slogan is so appropriate for their establishment. This hidden gem at the back of Vinings Jubilee is by turns a romantic spot for a rendezvous, a delicious place for dinner with friends, a gathering place for a convivial Happy Hour with food and drink specials, and a wine fan’s paradise. Each month, The Grape offers a wine flight from a different geographical region. Wine flights consist of a trio of 3-ounce servings for $15.00. During June, The Grape invites you on a virtual wine tour of Spain, where you can sample Bodegas Botani Moscatel 2009, Juan Gil Monastrell 2008 and Shaya Verdejo 2009. If you’re not in a red wine frame of mind, never fear. The servers will expertly steer you to something cold and refreshing, like a Pinot Grigio, a cocktail or a frosty beer. In addition to a variety of fun wines and scrumptious food, The Grape features live music on their patio from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. P.S. Wine bottles are half-price on Wednesdays.